Haverford School junior midfielder Brendan McGrath has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Princeton University.

McGrath, who helped the Fords claim a share of the Inter-Ac League title in 2009 and was ranked as the No. 30 Young Guns Rising Juniors this summer by Inside Lacrosse magazine, is one of seven junior members of the Fords to commit to a major Division I college.

McGrath will be joined by junior defenseman Alex Beatty, who just announced his commitment to Princeton. These two are the first Philly recruits for new Tigers coach and Philadelphia native Chris Bates, the former coach at Drexel who has replaced the legendary Bill Tierney. They also are two of seven Haverford juniors to commit to major Division I colleges.

McGrath who had 19 goals and 9 assists in 2009 was a first team All-Inter-Ac League pick and an Honorable Mention All-Phillylacrosse.com choice. He played on the Philly team in the Under Armour Underclassmen Games in 2008 as a rising sophomore and played for the Duke’s Lacrosse Club team that won Champ Camp in 2009. He has started since his freshman year and as a freshman scored two goals to help Haverford defeat then No. 1-ranked Loyola Blakefield of Maryland’s MIAA.

McGrath was also a standout on the Haverford football team, which also shared the Inter-Ac League title and had its best season in 38 years. As a starting cornerback, McGrath led the defensive backfield in tackles. McGrath also has lettered in indoor track since his freshman year, running in the 200- and 400-meter events.

McGrath also considered Duke, Harvard, North Carolina, Johns Hopkins, Virginia, Cornell and Georgetown.

McGrath, who said he would consider architecture or business as a major, chose Princeton because of its coaching staff and academic reputation as well as proximity to Philadelphia..

“First off, I like the coaching staff,” he said. “I felt a good connection. And then there is the academic prestige of the school. There is the whole balance between athletics and academics.”

McGrath also liked Bates’ coaching style.

“I think the team will be a little more up-tempo,” he said, “They”ll use picks and play two-man games with the offense.”

McGrath, who wished to thank Haverford School coaches John Nostrant (head coach), Mark Petrone, Travis Loving and Doug Knight, said the Fords will need to earn their accolades.

“I think we definitely have the talent to have a great season,” he said. “But we have to work very hard to reach our goals; especially with the commits we have. We know we’ll have a target on our backs.”